Rotary engine



No. 610,498. Patented Sept. 6, I898.

F. W. ROSS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Aug. 26. 1897.,

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet l.

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No. 610,498. Patented Sept. 6, I898 F. W. BOSS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Aug. 26, 1897.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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f UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

FINLAY WV. ROSS, OF BRITLE, CANADA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 610,498, dated September 6, 1898. 7 Application filed August 26 1897. Serial No. 649,598. (No model.)

full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in engines of that class known as rotary engines, and has for its object to provide an engine in which the economical use of steam will be facilitated.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent in the course of the following description, and the points of novelty will be particularly pointed out in the claim.

I am enabled to accomplish the objects of my invention by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved engine,showing a large cylinder and a small one adapted to'exhaust therein, thus compounding the engine. Fig. 2 represents a central verticalseotion of one of the cylinders. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one cylinder, showing the mechanism for raising the pressuregates. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of one of the cylinders, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the piston.

For convenience I will proceed to describe one of the cylindersand its connections, the cylinders being identical, except in size.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a suitable base, which is provided with pillar-blocks 2, 3, 4, and 5, which form bearings for the shaft 6, which is provided near one end with a band wheel or -pulley 7 and at or near the other end with a fly-wheel 8, both of said wheels being keyed to said shaft.

The numeral 9 indicates a wheel carried on the shaft 6 and keyed thereto and adapted to carry the piston-ring, which is formed with three radially-projecting piston-wings 11, which are adapted to enter the circular steamspace 12 of the cylinder 13. The cylinder is provided at its edge with the circular openings in its body and flanges 13', which are adapted to fit snugly against the edge of the piston-ring and serve to make a steam-tight joint between said parts.

The numeral 14 indicates a frame which is mounted upon the top of the cylinder and provided with a laterally-extended portion 15, through which passes a rod 16, provided at its lower end with an inclined shoe 16, and at its upper portion is adapted to pass through the end of a short horizontal arm 17. This horizontal arm 17 is provided at its other end with a perforation, through which passes the upper end of a vertical rod 18, which is adapted to enter through an opening in the top of the chamber 19, where it is provided with a gate or slide 19. The vertical rods 16 and 18 are screw-threaded at their upper ends and provided with adj usting-nuts, between which the short horizontal bar 17 rests and is adapted to be adjusted vertically on said rod. In addition to the gates 19 I provide a series of similar gates 20, which normally rest in the steam-space in the cylinder and are adapted to be lifted therefrom at proper intervals to allow the piston to pass. The movement of these gates is so timed and regulated that they will be forced into the steam-space immediately after the passage of each piston, thereby forming an immovable gate or stop, causing the live steam which is admitted to the cylinder to act upon the piston and rotate the shaft and force the piston to the point of exhaust. The numeral 22 indicates a series of steamchests which are provided with openings which communicate with the steam-space, the entrance through said openings to said space being controlled by valves 23 to admit and exhaust the steam.

The numeral 24 indicates a series of exhaust-ports which are arranged in close proximity to the inlet ports in order that the steam will be permitted to exhaust from the cylinder at a time just before the sliding gates are lifted to allow the pistons to pass. Just after the pistons have passed the gates said gates are forced into the steam-space, and the steam-inlet ports are opened to admit steam between the gates and the pistons.

The numeral 25 indicates an eccentric which is keyed to the shaft 6 and provided with collars 26, which are connected to a series of connecting-rods 27, which are connected at IOO their outer ends with a series of short laterally-extendin g crank-arms 28 on the valves 23. The eccentric 25 and its connecting-rod are so arranged with relation to the piston that the steam Will be admitted through three of the inlet-ports simultaneously to operate upon all of the piston-wings and shut steam off from the other piston. The numeral 28 indicates a Wheel which is provided with cam projections 29 on its periphery, which are adapted to engage the shoe 16 for the purpose described. The cam projections on the wheel 28 are adapted to engage the shoes 16 on the rods 16 at proper intervals to raise the gates and allow the pistons to pass. The said gates are kept normally seated in the steam-space of the engine by a series of springs 30, which are attached to the rods at one end and bear against the shoulders 31 in their respective frames.

Many modifications involving mechanical skill may be made in my invention Without changing its character or departing from the spirit thereof. v

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I In a rotary engine, the combination of a shaft having a band wheel or pulley at one end and a fly-wheel near the opposite end, a wheel mounted on the said shaft and carrying a piston-ring formed with three radiallyprojecting piston-wings, a cylinder in which said parts are mounted having a circular steam-space through which the said wings have movement, and said cylinder also having a series of steam-chests which are provided with openings communicating with the said steam-space, the said openings being controlled by valves to admit and exhaust the steam, and also located adjacent to a series of exhaust-ports, a frame mounted on the cylinder having a laterally-extended portion, a gate or slide movably mounted in connection with the cylinder, a vertical rod attached thereto and adjustable in the said frame, a horizontal rod connected to the said vertical rod, a second vertical rod movably mounted in the laterally-extended portion of the frame and having its upper end attached to the said horizontal rod, a shoe on the lower end of the second vertical rod, a wheel on the shaft having cam projections engaged by the said shoe, an eccentric keyed to the shaft and provided with collars attached to a series of connecting-rods which are in turn secured to a series of short laterally-extending crankarms of the valves in the cylinder, springs on the vertical rods in the frame and the eXtension thereof, and a similar smaller cylinder adjacent to the aforesaid cylinder having similar mechanism in connection therewith, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FINLAY WV. ROSS.

WVitnesses:

J AMES A. JOHNSTON, 'ARCHD. R. TINGLEY. 

